Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the President
has issued an Executive Order imposing targeted financial sanctions on
certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons responsible
for undermining Belarus' democratic processes or institutions, human rights
abuses, or public corruption.

The order immediately blocks all property and interests in property of the
persons listed in the Annex to the order. It prohibits U.S. companies and
individuals from engaging in any transactions with the targeted persons.
These persons will not be able to access any assets that they might have in
the United States, and U.S. financial institutions, wherever located, will
not be able to provide any financial services to them.

The United States, the European Union, and other partners have repeatedly
expressed support for the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus
and condemned the government's human rights abuses, assaults on democracy,
and corruption. The fraudulent presidential election in March 2006,
repression of post-election demonstrators, and continued detention of
activists and opposition supporters, including former Presidential
candidate Alexander Kozulin and four leaders of the election monitoring
organization Partnership, mark only the latest chapter in the government's
efforts to stifle the rights of the Belarusian people. These sanctions,
imposed in coordination with targeted financial sanctions adopted by the
European Union, indicate the international community's intention to hold to
account those responsible for abuses in Belarus.

The Executive Order also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to
designate and block the property of additional persons. The U.S.
Government will continue to gather and review information regarding
possible additional targets.